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I have begun collecting old RPGs, buying them here and there whenever i managed, and have amassed quite a collection. Recently i bought the entire old world of darkness from a friend who had to sell them because he needed cash quickly (we still hang out and game together so it's not such a great loss to him as it could have been), but nobody wants to play anyting but Pathfinder. While that sings praises for Paizo's baby, i'd still like to at least try some of those other games. But no. Every time we finish a campaign, i mention that i could run something, and nobody wants to play. Sigh.
Any of you having a similar problem?
I was that player that kept wanting to play PF. What I would do is try to get them hooked is ask them to play one or two sessions instead of a full campaign. That why they don't feel committed, and if they do like the system they will ask you to run it again. If not then at least you know you tried, and they will know they won't be asked again if they don't a particular game.
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Most indeed. We occasionally try out something else, but it's rare anymore. There's been more than a couple times we agree to try something else out, then suddenly people decide to take that week off to do other things. Gets depressing at times.
But hey, Pathfinder is fun at least!
I was that player that kept wanting to play PF. What I would do is try to get them hooked is ask them to play one or two sessions instead of a full campaign. That why they don't feel committed, and if they do like the system they will ask you to run it again. If not then at least you know you tried, and they will know they won't be asked again if they don't a particular game.
Agreed, propose running a 'one-shot', two or three session adventure. It May be the genre of fantasy that they like, maybe they aren't interested in a switch to horror investigation, or superheroes or whatever in which case your first foray you should stick with a fantasy game. But, Most importantly pick and run a simple game system. If they are exclusively pathfinder players ( which is a rules intensive game ) they probably expect any new system to be a fair bit of work to just get the hang of and they are comfortable with the level of skill with the system they know. Run something that they can get into straight away.
Bludgeon them to unconsciousness with hardcovers, drag them to an abandoned basement, tie up and start GMing when they regain their consciousness until they yield to Stockholm Syndrome.
Yup -- pretty common problem.
I have begun collecting old RPGs, buying them here and there whenever i managed, and have amassed quite a collection. Recently i bought the entire old world of darkness from a friend who had to sell them because he needed cash quickly (we still hang out and game together so it's not such a great loss to him as it could have been), but nobody wants to play anyting but Pathfinder. While that sings praises for Paizo's baby, i'd still like to at least try some of those other games. But no. Every time we finish a campaign, i mention that i could run something, and nobody wants to play. Sigh.
Any of you having a similar problem?
I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
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I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
I will actually admit to owning that as well. We even tried that one once. Made me realize that yes, my friends are evil.
I proposed to run one shots...no cigar...i really hate when people don't want to try something new or different because they are comfortable with something else.
They have the mindset that nothing can compare. That was how I was anyway. I am glad I did give other games a chance though. I still like PF the best, but it does not fit every type of game I want to run. I definitely want to run a mercenary(evil A-Team)/assassin type game, and Shadowrun fits that better than Pathfinder would for what I want to do.
If they won't even agree to a one shot then I am out of ideas. It is only 1 or 2 sessions.
edit:Try rephrasing the question. "If I set up a something for game X would you be willing to try it?" That is different than "do you want to do it."
I will actually admit to owning that as well. We even tried that one once. Made me realize that yes, my friends are evil.I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
Oh good. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. It was a spontaneous Ebay purchase. I'm... so ashamed.
I'm in approximately 3-ish regular games & one very irregular game. Two of them are Pathfinder & the other we run the gamut (we are starting a BESM 2nd Ed tomorrow night{the irregular game is CyberGeneration}).
Consider gaming with others besides your regular group. All four groups play very differently.
@sunbeam: I adore True20/Blue Rose. A friend of mine has asked me a couple times to run a game but unfortunately my schedule is not compatible with theirs at the moment.
Oh good. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. It was a spontaneous Ebay purchase. I'm... so ashamed.I will actually admit to owning that as well. We even tried that one once. Made me realize that yes, my friends are evil.I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
I wouldn't be. I'd LOVE to own a copy.
I wouldn't be. I'd LOVE to own a copy.Oh good. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. It was a spontaneous Ebay purchase. I'm... so ashamed.I will actually admit to owning that as well. We even tried that one once. Made me realize that yes, my friends are evil.I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
Are you serious? I'll happily send you mine if you don't mind paying for postage from Australia. It's just been sitting there, embarassing my bookshelf, for years.
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I have begun collecting old RPGs, buying them here and there whenever i managed, and have amassed quite a collection. Recently i bought the entire old world of darkness from a friend who had to sell them because he needed cash quickly (we still hang out and game together so it's not such a great loss to him as it could have been), but nobody wants to play anyting but Pathfinder. While that sings praises for Paizo's baby, i'd still like to at least try some of those other games. But no. Every time we finish a campaign, i mention that i could run something, and nobody wants to play. Sigh.
Any of you having a similar problem?
Sort of. some players always ask for more "classical D&D" (eg. 3.5 with splatbooks, yeah, I know), Pathfinder, or Call of Cthulhu.
Nevermind Stormbringer, Exalted, two editions of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, DragonAGE, A Song of Ice and Fire, Artesia RPG, The One Ring, Victoriana, Deadlands, Mouse Guard, Kult, Fantasycraft and a couple more.
I let out a deep sigh and just roll with it. Their loss.
James Bond is one of my favorite games, but I can not get enough people interested to get a game going. I also have a system I designed that I would love to get play tested, but it has the same problem...no one else wants to pause Pathfinder.
I fell in love with Burning Wheel, bought all the books. I'm 100% willing to GM it for anyone who cares to give it a whirl, but all of my friends are scared of it for some reason. Yes, it's very different from Pathfinder, but variety is the spice of life, sheesh.
Hama, I feel your pain.
Maybe I can shed some light on this phenomenon...
I've got a buddy that loves every game system that comes out, and he wants to play all of them, but many of us, myself included, just don't have much interest in new systems...much less EVERY system that comes out or is already out there.
It's not because we don't like to try new things, or don't want to game, or think Pathfinder is perfect, but it's a matter of just not wanting to learn a dozen and one different systems.
I GM Pathfinder myself, and I'll play Savage Worlds, Star Wars Saga, Mutants and Masterminds, and even Burning Empires...but that's about my limit. Too many systems all start looking and feeling the same and frankly, I don't want to muddle my brain with so many different rule sets!
Sure, I'll try a one-off game here and there of something new, but honestly I prefer to just stick with the few I already know and love. Part of that is also a matter of time...I'd rather spend it playing the games I know and love, when I actually have the time to game.
While there's often more enthusiasm for one system than another, generally amongst my gamer group of friends, if someone offers to run anything a lot of people will jump at the chance just to get to play something.
The only real deterrent I think is accessibility of rulebooks. A lot of gamers like to own the rules of a game they are playing in, for obvious reasons. If you own and want to run a really obscure, or moreover an out of print game, people may be less enthusiastic if they can't get their hands on a copy of the game, because they want to study the rules and play with character builds and ideas.
One of the reasons Pathfinder and a lot of other OGL games win out is because you can access a system reference document online.
I have been on both sides of this... I have tried in vain to get people interested in trying a lot of games Aberrant being the most notorious failure on my part in fact I continued pestering people about it till Mutants and Masterminds came out. Hey I am a sucker for super hero games. I have played every supers game ever made (that I know about) except Aberrant. ~sigh~ But I suck at GMing supers games so I am at the mercy of finding a GM willing to try it.
On the other hand I once staunchly opposed switching games from 3.5e D&D to the other PF (Palladium Fantasy). The reason being that I had found my favorite Fantasy game... no need to look further. Well I did have to look further when WotC dropped 3.5e in favor of 4e. But thankfully a game like Pathfinder was there like a knight in shining armor to rescue me.
Considering I'm usually the GM, and the only systems I know are 3.5 and PF (which I usually combine), no I haven't had this problem.
One guy tried to run a Mutants and Masterminds game but it died after two sessions. Ditto with two 4E games (though granted the first of those was deliberate, friend in the army was back in town on the same weekend it came out so we bought it and played while he was here) and a WoD Vampire/Mage game. All of those I was a player in, not GM.
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I've heard stories of the Sailor Moon RPG... from men in their 40s who know of it purely because of their daughters (Or so they say) and appereantly it was hilarious. I might be mixing up a rule from another game system, but wasn't there a rule that said something along the lines of "If you don't pay attention to them, they will do nothing to you. The moment you mention them, though, they will attack." The person explaining said "You could talk about your hair or dinner or Tuxedo Mask or whatever, but as soon as one party member says 'But what about the monster over there?' the GM would start rolling dice with the most wicked grin on his face."
Man, I need to chat with those guys more often.
Its pretty simple really. Learning a new system is a fair amount of work. Even the simplest system requires a fair amount of effort to gain system mastery. Thats why my group tends to stick with d20 games, its just easier, we are familiar with it and dont have to learn the rules to something totally new. I've tried to get people moving in other systems at times, but we usually come back to some kind of d20 fantasy (3.5 or pathfinder) after a short excursion.
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I mean i am not trying to force them to play rolemaster...cyberpunk is fairly easy to learn, and uses two types of dice. World of darkness uses a single type of dice. There are so many awesome game systems out there, and they don't want to even try them because they are lazy and complacent.
That is no excuse.
Sometimes people should get out of their comfort zones.
What I have seen of Tephra is really tempting. My only issue is that it is a level-based system & I have been less & less enamored with those for quite some time.
Ah Castle Falkenstien, my best friend got us started on that & I was so taken I picked up every source-book R Talsorian ever published for it. A little less fond now that it is a GURPS property.
I mean i am not trying to force them to play rolemaster...cyberpunk is fairly easy to learn, and uses two types of dice. World of darkness uses a single type of dice. There are so many awesome game systems out there, and they don't want to even try them because they are lazy and complacent.
That is no excuse.
Sometimes people should get out of their comfort zones.
Yea that isn't going to help convince them. Keep in mind this is as LEISURE activity. Learning the rules to a roleplaying game is for many, not fun. Playing the game is fun once you know the rules. Me personally I love learning game systems and rules, and indulge in said behavior all on my own for the fun of it. But there are plenty of people in my game who dont want to put in that kind of time and that doesnt make them lazy, it just makes their priorities different.
I fell in love with Burning Wheel, bought all the books. I'm 100% willing to GM it for anyone who cares to give it a whirl, but all of my friends are scared of it for some reason. Yes, it's very different from Pathfinder, but variety is the spice of life, sheesh.
Hama, I feel your pain.
I can't run BW (just doesn't fit my personality and style as a GM), but I love playing it. If I ever find someone local to run a Burning Empires game I'm going to cream my pants.
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Sometimes people should get out of their comfort zones.
And some people play the game for fun and are kind of busy with real life. As already stated, learning a new system takes time. Given a choice between "stumble through a new system learning it" and "jump in on a new game in a system we already know" which are people with limited time and looking for a relaxing escape from real life going to pick?
Sometimes people should get out of their comfort zones.And some people play the game for fun and are kind of busy with real life. As already stated, learning a new system takes time. Given a choice between "stumble through a new system learning it" and "jump in on a new game in a system we already know" which are people with limited time and looking for a relaxing escape from real life going to pick?
What you're saying isn't mutually exclusive from what he is saying.
When I was in the military, our ship would pull into foreign countries and spend a few days there. It was like pulling teeth trying to get people to go try the local cuisine. I eventually just gave up, they went to McDonalds and I found a nice restaurant.
If they had been willing to go outside of their comfort zones, they could have had an enjoyable meal AND tried something new.
I'm not saying that you HAVE to try something new, but when people are okay with pushing their comfort zone, they don't see trying something new as a chore.
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If there are people who don't play this for fun, i feel really sorry for them, because they are playing for the wrong reason. As for real life, i work and have family stuff and still manage to make a bunch of stat blocks, treasure, maps and encounters sometimes twice a week for my players. And i still get to spend a lot of quality time with my significant other.
How much is shipping? I live in America, brooklyn, ny (go nets! May Barclay stadium be the first step in brooklyn becoming an independent city once more!)
Are you serious? I'll happily send you mine if you don't mind paying for postage from Australia. It's just been sitting there, embarassing my bookshelf, for years.I wouldn't be. I'd LOVE to own a copy.Oh good. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. It was a spontaneous Ebay purchase. I'm... so ashamed.I will actually admit to owning that as well. We even tried that one once. Made me realize that yes, my friends are evil.I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
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I have a lot of other systems I picked up to read for different mechanical ideas.
I've only ever stepped outside of d20 once, for Warhammer FRP. It didn't go well.
Wow. You should really try something outside of d20, there's tons of other systems that are just as good (and that is me being generous to d20). Which edition of WHFRP did you try? I've heard that 3rd is really wonky, with the specialty dice and lots of other required cards, tokens, etc.
How much is shipping? I live in America, brooklyn, ny (go nets! May Barclay stadium be the first step in brooklyn becoming an independent city once more!)Are you serious? I'll happily send you mine if you don't mind paying for postage from Australia. It's just been sitting there, embarassing my bookshelf, for years.I wouldn't be. I'd LOVE to own a copy.Oh good. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. It was a spontaneous Ebay purchase. I'm... so ashamed.I will actually admit to owning that as well. We even tried that one once. Made me realize that yes, my friends are evil.I actually feel very fortunate in that I have a group of players that always want to try something new. In fact, I don't think we've ever played the same rule system twice. The problem I have is that I have a bookshelf full of amazing Paizo products, all undeservedly accumulating dust while we play some obscure copy of the Sailor Moon RPG (I'm not kidding, I actually have that).
But if they're reluctant to change, maybe... you could try and talk them into it? I firmly belive that there's really very little difference between role playing games in general. When you get right down to it, all you're really doing is sitting around with your friends and telling stories. The only thing that really significantly changes is the setting. I can understand when a setting is not to a player's taste (*cough* Sailor Moon *cough*-*barf*), but in my experience, if you take the time to put together a good campaign, they will play it regardless of the ruleset.
If you build it, they will come?
Should only be around $8.00 USD if we do it via sea mail. PM me if you're still interested and I'll give you my paypal deets.
I've had Fairy Meat for five years and no one I game with has ever been willing to glue the fairy wings to their Warhammers or Warmachineries or whatever.
:(
had to google Fairy Meat...
what a wicked game! I'm in!
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Wow. You should really try something outside of d20, there's tons of other systems that are just as good (and that is me being generous to d20). Which edition of WHFRP did you try? I've heard that 3rd is really wonky, with the specialty dice and lots of other required cards, tokens, etc.
My books don't say, but it was published in 2005 and uses percentiles for stats. I think there was nothing really wrong with the system per se, just that I didn't mesh with the group I joined. Not a fan of super gritty realism, so I probably will never enjoy the default setting.
I have Burning Wheel, Castles and Crusades, will have Swords and Wizardry, True 20, Amber Diceless, Savage Worlds, and probably a bunch of others in PDF. I just don't have the interest in learning to play and run those systems without a dedicated group that would be willing to invest the same amount of time. :/
Easy answer from someone that is not interested in stepping outside of PF...
1) System. I don't feel much desire to learn a new system when D20 works, warts and all.
2) System. Many folks know D20. I move a lot due to my job, so groups rarely get past one year anniversaries.
3) System. D20 is easy to teach. Yes it can be complex, but at it's core it is simple and elegant.
4) System. The system works well enough to cover lots and lots of character concepts, so players should be pretty happy.
5) System. The rules work well enough to let GMs to run the games they want.
GNOME
Easy answer from someone that is not interested in stepping outside of PF...
1) System. I don't feel much desire to learn a new system when D20 works, warts and all.
2) System. Many folks know D20. I move a lot due to my job, so groups rarely get past one year anniversaries.
3) System. D20 is easy to teach. Yes it can be complex, but at it's core it is simple and elegant.
4) System. The system works well enough to cover lots and lots of character concepts, so players should be pretty happy.
5) System. The rules work well enough to let GMs to run the games they want.GNOME
This.
Also, same on the hamburger question. I pretty much always get cheese (not picky except I don't like bleu cheese, but prefer swiss if available), pickles, mayo, mustard, and ketchup on my burgers. Bacon and olives if either is available (Cheeburger Cheeburger is awesome for all the toppings you can get on a burger there.) Always medium well or well done, never rarer. I'm a creature of habit and I know what I like. If I got tired of that, I wouldn't get a different burger, I'd just not get a burger and go to SubWay or Chinese food or something.
Wow. You should really try something outside of d20, there's tons of other systems that are just as good (and that is me being generous to d20). Which edition of WHFRP did you try? I've heard that 3rd is really wonky, with the specialty dice and lots of other required cards, tokens, etc.My books don't say, but it was published in 2005 and uses percentiles for stats. I think there was nothing really wrong with the system per se, just that I didn't mesh with the group I joined. Not a fan of super gritty realism, so I probably will never enjoy the default setting.
2nd Edition. The world is quite specific unlike the more generic D&D. It is far from being gritty realistic. Second edition only partially solves the problem of naked dwarf. At least plate armor is no longer paper thin like it was in 1st edition...
Mmmm... burgers.
I love to mix a lot of new stuff into my diet. BUT when I find something I like I stick with it. Doesn't mean I always eat that but if I found a place with the Ultimate Burger I certainly would eat my fair share of those and may very well ignore other burger choices. Heavens I might even break a healthy eating streak if the burger was THAT good. But no one lives on burgers alone.